Unhitching! What am i doing wrong please?

[DarrylFlynn]

Hi,
i have a 2009 Elddis Odyssey 544 which we bought new and for some reason, i quite often struggle to get the caravan towhitch to release from the ball on the towbar.
This is often at it's worst when i am facing uphill outside of my house and wanting to uncouple to get it on the drive with the motor mover.
My sequence is pull up, put the caravan brake on and try to uncouple. If that doesn't work i let the car roll back a few mm and try again or pull forward a few mm and try again. Very embarassing when traffic is waiting to get past.

My gut instict is that i am doing something wrong and that when it does release readily, that is more down to good luck than management.

Thanks in advance Darryl

 

[kennygee]

Make sure your car and caravan are both level with each other. You could try putting your weight on the car boot and bouncing it, as I sometimes have to do.

 

[xtrailman]

Hi,
i have a 2009 Elddis Odyssey 544 which we bought new and for some reason, i quite often struggle to get the caravan towhitch to release from the ball on the towbar.
This is often at it's worst when i am facing uphill outside of my house and wanting to uncouple to get it on the drive with the motor mover.
My sequence is pull up, put the caravan brake on and try to uncouple. If that doesn't work i let the car roll back a few mm and try again or pull forward a few mm and try again. Very embarassing when traffic is waiting to get past.

My gut instict is that i am doing something wrong and that when it does release readily, that is more down to good luck than management.

Thanks in advance Darryl

You don't want the override damper to be "compressed or stretched".
But some were in between, look at the rubber gaiter to judge.
I assume you're unhitch by using the jokey wheel?
And lifting the hitch lever.

 

[Parksy]

You are not doing anything wrong Darryl, this problem is not uncommon. After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch. Don't mount the kerb with either the car or caravan, try to keep both on the same level.

 

[Martin_E]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

 

[DarrylFlynn]

Martin_E,

did you read my original post?

How am i going to use the motor mover UNTIL i get the car unhitched which is what my query was!

Darryl

 

[DarrylFlynn]

Martin_E,

did you read my original post?

How am i going to use the motor mover UNTIL i get the car unhitched which is what my query was!

Darryl

 

[xtrailman]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

Agree, i always put the mover on while hitched up.
Its going on anyway to park the van up.

 

[Martin_E]

Martin_E,

did you read my original post?

How am i going to use the motor mover UNTIL i get the car unhitched which is what my query was!

Darryl

Yes thank you, otherwise I wouldn't have replied.

Simples, engage mover, turn on, move small amount forward or backwards using buttons on remote until hitch is free, it is far more accurate than using a clutch/auto box on a car

 

[xtrailman]

Darryl
No need to be so aggressive!

You have ASKED for help?
I would have mentioned the mover myself.
But thought it TOO obvious.

 

[Parksy]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

I've just noticed that the o.p. mentioned his motor mover. I was offering advice under the assumption that he didn't have one fitted.

 

[Martin_E]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

Are motor movers fitted to caravans as standard equipment nowadays?
The o.p. didn't mention a motor mover so I'd assumed that he didn't have one fitted.

Hi Steve,

No motormovers are not yet fitted as standard, but as the OP placed this...............

"This is often at it's worst when i am facing uphill outside of my house and wanting to uncouple to get it on the drive with the motor mover."

in his post, I can only assume that he is not blagging to the fact that he has one

 

[MichaelE]

I have always had problems unhitching with the Winterhoff fitted to the Bpw chassis on all my Elddle's i have had.
I spoke to them at the show and they said it was the release at the front of the ball within the hitch(back of hitch)
I tried level,making sure not compressed,level etc didnt make a difference i did find that if i didnt pull the handbrake up on the van before i unhitched it came off the hitch np.
Seen others onsite with same problem all Winterhoff's

 

[DarrylFlynn]

I have always had problems unhitching with the Winterhoff fitted to the Bpw chassis on all my Elddle's i have had.
I spoke to them at the show and they said it was the release at the front of the ball within the hitch(back of hitch)
I tried level,making sure not compressed,level etc didnt make a difference i did find that if i didnt pull the handbrake up on the van before i unhitched it came off the hitch np.
Seen others onsite with same problem all Winterhoff's

Thanks Michael, i will try this as well . Regards Darryl

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

My procedure when I have trouble unhitching is to take some weight at the hitch on the jockey wheel. When easing back and fore then, by whatever means, the hitch will spring apart.

 

[Barry Doran]

Hi All,
I had the same problem a number of years ago when I last caravanned. We had a Compass Omega 534 with a Winterhoff stabliser and any time I asked my Dealer he blamed the towball. I often arrived on site and could not unhitch the car from the van much to the amusement of some other caravanners very frustrating. Is this still a problem with new Winterhoff stablisers?
Barry.

 

[DarrylFlynn]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

Ray, i was not being aggressive.
If Martin_E had explained himself a little better, than the above and in a non patronising manner, i would have instantly gathered what he was saying and taken that VERY GOOD advice on board.
The assumption that has been made by several is that because i have a motor mover fitted that i will always engage it before unhitching. ( i will now as it makes perfect sense )
I am relatively new to this and therefore very willing to take advice if it is provided in a clear, understandable manner, which Martin's was not.

Thanks to everyone so far, much appreciated Darryl

 

[Parksy]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

Are motor movers fitted to caravans as standard equipment nowadays?

The words worst typist strikes again

Apologies Martin, I was performing a quick (for me anyway) edit as you replied. When I read what you had written I had a look back and read the o.p. properly where I saw that he had mentioned his motor mover

 

[Martin_E]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

Ray, i was not being aggressive.
If Martin_E had explained himself a little better than the above i would have instantly gathered what he was saying and taken that VERY GOOD advice on board.
The assumption that has been made is that because i have a motor mover fitted that i will always engage it before unhitching. ( i will now as it makes perfect sense )
I am relatively new to this and therefore very willing to take advice if it is provided in a clear, understandable manner, which Martin's was not.

Thanks to everyone so far, much appreciated Darryl

Darryl,
I wasn't making an assumption at all, I was actually replying to Steve, who is a seasoned caravanner, and thought that perhaps he may have suggested using the mover.

I am sorry you didn't understand my post re the mover, but had you replied in a less aggressive manor I would have been more than happy to have explained better to you.

Please accept my apologies for your misunderstanding and my response.

Martin

 

[Martin_E]

After you have stopped try easing the car forward just for an inch or so to try to release tension on the hitch.

Nor really sure why you want to mess around faffing about moving the car, when you have a motormover fitted, it is easier, quicker and more accurate, so why not make use of it!!!??

Are motor movers fitted to caravans as standard equipment nowadays?

The words worst typist strikes again

Apologies Martin, I was performing a quick (for me anyway) edit as you replied. When I read what you had written I had a look back and read the o.p. properly where I saw that he had mentioned his motor mover

We are but humans Steve,
a friend of mine evan said that I made a mistake!!!!

it was only the once though. tee hee tee hee

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

Hi All,
I had the same problem a number of years ago when I last caravanned. We had a Compass Omega 534 with a Winterhoff stabliser and any time I asked my Dealer he blamed the towball. I often arrived on site and could not unhitch the car from the van much to the amusement of some other caravanners very frustrating. Is this still a problem with new Winterhoff stablisers?
Barry.

not just winterhoff barry the alko is exactly the same somehow the handbrake hinders the uncoupling dont know why but it does.
martins suggestion is just about spot on. wish someone had told me when we got the bailey most embarrasing pulling back and forth jockey wheel up and down jumping up and down on the bar for 20 mins just to get unhitched.
the procedure I use that works every time goes as follows :-
pull up and put handbrake on car.
disconnect the electrics.
engage mover rollers
lift handle on hitch
lower jockey wheel so it just starts to lift back of car
inch the mover forward and backwards
and it just pops off. "simples"
colin .

 

[Barry Doran]

Hi All,
I had the same problem a number of years ago when I last caravanned. We had a Compass Omega 534 with a Winterhoff stabliser and any time I asked my Dealer he blamed the towball. I often arrived on site and could not unhitch the car from the van much to the amusement of some other caravanners very frustrating. Is this still a problem with new Winterhoff stablisers?
Barry.

not just winterhoff barry the alko is exactly the same somehow the handbrake hinders the uncoupling dont know why but it does.
martins suggestion is just about spot on. wish someone had told me when we got the bailey most embarrasing pulling back and forth jockey wheel up and down jumping up and down on the bar for 20 mins just to get unhitched.
the procedure I use that works every time goes as follows :-
pull up and put handbrake on car.
disconnect the electrics.
engage mover rollers
lift handle on hitch
lower jockey wheel so it just starts to lift back of car
inch the mover forward and backwards
and it just pops off. "simples"
colin .

Thanks Colin will remember your advice.
Barry.

 

[DarrylFlynn]

Darryl,
I wasn't making an assumption at all, I was actually replying to Steve, who is a seasoned caravanner, and thought that perhaps he may have suggested using the mover.
Please accept my apologies for your misunderstanding and my response.Martin

Thanks Martin and now that i know what you meant it makes complete sense and i feel a total prat not thinking of it myself earlier.
Your suggestion wil be " normal practice from now on"

Thanks again for your help. I have an awful lot to learn about caravanning and i am never afraid to ask, but it's absolutely cracking.

Kind Regards Darryl

 

[RegandPat]

I have to unhook on a slight hill but I do not have a motor mover fitted.
What I have to do is get Pat to go forward and backwards in the car and hope she don't flatten me.
On a good day it just comes unhooked.
On a bad day we contemplate divorce.
Reg and Pat

 

[Dustydog]

On the Wyoming's Al-Ko I find that if I don't hold the release fully open as I raise the jockey wheel it will start raising the car. It does seem the lever must be kept fully open whilst turning the winder with the other hand.